I go walking with a girlfriend a few mornings a week. We move at a good pace and about half way through we start our journey up a pretty impressive hill. The sidewalk looms ahead of us and doesn’t appear to end. My heart sinks in despair and I begin to drag my feet. As I look ahead at the distance we still have to go I quickly become discouraged and tired. My girlfriend takes the stroller from me half way up to give me a break and eventually we arrive at the top. It feels like it took forever.

Then last week as we started the trek up the hill I got so engrossed in the conversation we were having that I was completely taken by surprise when I realized we’d already reached the top. My girlfriend said to me “look at that, I didn’t even have to take the stroller for you this time”. She was right and I wasn’t even as tired as I usually am. I thought about it for a few moments and it occurred to me that I had been so focused on our conversation that I didn’t have a chance to dwell on what was still to come. I’d kept my eyes down and stayed focused in the moment and not beyond that. What a difference!

If you think about it organizing is very similar to this. Sometimes we get so overwhelmed and discouraged by all we have to do that we simply drag our feet and do nothing. We look around at our spaces and think I’m never going to get to the end. It’s frustrating and draining when the task ahead seems to be more than we can handle.

However today I want to encourage you to keep your eyes down, focusing only on the task at hand. Don’t let the “hill” keep you from taking the necessary steps to move forward. If you are looking at a room that you want to organize, start with a drawer, move to the next drawer, work your way around the room one step at a time.

Just don’t look up, keep moving and before you know it you’ll be at the top giving yourself a pat on the back. You’ll look back on the path you traveled and feel mighty proud of yourself.

Thank you for this post, for me, it was at just the right time. I got all inspired by reading your blog a few months back and went crazy organizing and got a few rooms done. But I kind of burned out and got overwhelmed when I saw how much more I have to do. I am encouraged by the progress I’ve made and this post has encouraged me to keep going at it and to just take it bit by bit until it is done. Thanks again!

So true!! I do this when riding my bike as well. There is this monstrous hill we come across and as long as i don’t look up I am fine. I used to have to push my bike up because I would lose the momentum.

Baby steps! Worry about the task at hand and before you know it you will be at the top of your hill!

I have been feeling really overwhelmed about my house lately and haven’t been doing anything. I just sit and stare at it. I really needed this advice today and I’m going to jump start myself today and get organizing. Thanks.

I couldn’t agree more. I have a really bad tendency to shut down when there is too much to do. But yesterday, I put on my iPod instead, and got so engrossed with bopping to the music that I didn’t even realize that I was cleaning way more than I usually do!

Thank you, Laura, for sharing your wisdom with us! As Avior commented, I also have a tendency to think about everything that needs to be done and it seems insurmountable, so what do I do? Nothing! Focusing on and completing one task at a time is what leads to results. As other readers have commented, your post today was just the vision that we needed to move forward. Thanks again!

Great advice, and what a fabulous image to keep in mind, whether for decluttering the house or losing the weight I need to lose. One step at a time. I can’t just look at the destination – I have to focus on the journey. Thank you.

Great post! Organizing dilema right now after pairing more toys down with the four children is what to do with at least 5 wooden puzzles the ones that are wood and have the wooden pieces care to share on the best way to prganize them with me? I am drawing a blank at this point.

So true Laura . I watched an organzing show and what they did was cleaned a small area so they could see some progress first. The room was a disaster! The thing to do was to just get started and not be overwhelmed of where to start. Baby steps just do something first! Begin is all that you have to do.

This was fantastic, thanks! It is great advice for every area of our life where we might struggle–weight loss, organizing, exercising, etc.

Just today I had my own experience like this. I am expanding the jogging portion of my walk/jog routine (3xWk). It felt impossible to go as far as I did on Monday (Day 1 of the expansion) all the way and I was ready to stop and walk. So, I just started talking myself through it and did not look at how far away the checkpoint was that I said I had to reach at the minimum (a compromise to my tired self).

Before I knew it, I had made it past the compromise checkpoint, past Day 1’s checkpoint and to the checkpoint I had wanted to reach today.

I have been lingering at this website for a couple of months now and this post compelled me to answer and become involved. This is exactly what I needed today as I look at each room needing *drastic action*. It seems very overwhelming today…it is not my fault…they out number me 3 (kids) to one (me). LOL It is comforting to know others have the same organizing problems I do and we can all feel comfortable to share our trials and triumphs here. Thank you Organizing Junkie for giving me a place to be inspired and keep what really matters in perspective.

Have you ever read “Momo” by Michael Ende? It’s a great kid’s book – but for adults, too. Beppo the streetsweeper has the same approach: when he has to sweep a veeeery long street, he doesn’t think about the length of the entire street, just about the next step and the next sweep. And suddenly – he’s done. I love that book – your post reminded me of it, thanks for that! And have fun walking with your friend! ;-)

I feel the same way on my treadmill. If I look at how much time is left sometimes I get discouraged. But if I focus on the music and my breathing, I can get through it. I should try my iPod while I clean. I know the music makes getting dinner ready easier!

You are gifted my friend! I love this post….and it is one of the things I love about you. Your insight and inspiration astound me and remind me of how blessed I am to know you. I love the way to took this experience of the hill and turned it into an opportunity to teach, encourage, and motivate others. I know you have such a genuine heart and such a passion to want to help others, and it is obvious that you DO! I hope you know how special you are! Kim (from NL)

ahhh yes! you know i was only thinking last night how amazed i was by what i achieved yesterday. (im just getting into the swing of organization and LOVING every bit of it!) i was doing dishes and thinking how instead of looking at everything and thinking just how bad the house had got blah blah blah- i focused on the one task. i wanted to get the books and book case sorted. that was done so i set myself the goals to get the dishes done, tidy the bench and put the 4 (easy enough) puzzles back together that my twins pulled apart earlier that day. i achieved it all and you know what? i was able to go to bed feeling PROUD instead of feeling down on myself for all that i didnt get done. im learning to just focus on the one space or room. as i look at the room i now say “ok what doesnt belong here?” instead of freaking out and wondering where to start. then as i put the things into the other rooms- i dont then get sidetracked by what needs doing there- i just go back to the original task and tackle it til its done. the other rooms now dont get started or stressed about until the current task is complete. sounds so easy but it doesnt come naturally to me. (being organized) i raised that it all got done at once. the dishes got left til last thing- after dinner. the housework was done on weekends. im slowly learning to do a little each day- and feel better for it! thank you thank you thank you! yu are blessing to me!

This is a very encouraging post. I wrote next to my notes about organizing my space: “Stay focused on the moment.” I am definitely feeling some ( a lot ) of anxiety about getting this project completed. I think that because I have no budget for it that it will never look like I want it to and never be the space I want and envision. With a deep breath I am going to give it my best!

This same kind of thinking helps a lot in labor, too, if anyone out there is pregnant. (My births were natural) Just stay focused in the present. You only have to survive the next ten seconds. Try counting out loud through each contraction. This is the best way to keep your head, and not freak out or get overwhelmed with fear or anxiety… :)

Our house is a total disaster right now. Our whole family has to learn new habits and we have to try to pull it together, but I know we have to move one little step at a time and make some real habits and stick with them. I definitely can’t look up right now!